The first of many fresh faces likely to debut for the Tigers this season, Mike Gerber got the call to Detroit to serve as the 26th man for the doubleheader against the Royals on Friday.

Gerber, 25, was the Tigers’ 15th-round draft pick in 2014. He emerged at Double-A Erie last season after a consistent, albeit relatively quiet, ascent up the organizational ladder to that point. The 6-foot, 190-pound outfielder wrapped up 2017 at Triple-A Toledo, posting two doubles, a home run and three RBI over four games with the Mud Hens.

The Tigers assigned Gerber to Triple-A last month to continue working on his plate performance. His power has improved, but the strikeout rate is high, at 34.8 percent over 43 at-bats with Toledo this season.

Gerber made his MLB debut in Game 2 on Friday as a pinch runner for Miguel Cabrera with two out in the ninth. He didn’t get much of an opportunity, though, as John Hicks subsequently grounded out to end the...

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